The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1887-08-11

hlmself In o large piece OF
swampy woodland, where he doubtless
busted himself in devising plan for the
annihilation of the entire army the mo-
ment they came into sight.
The soldiers never came. Whether
they we're warned that neighbor Staff
intended destroying them or whether
they never started do not know. They
did not come.
Event succeeded event, and sometimes
the war clouds drew close to Us, 80 close
that several times the heavy rumble of
artillery was distinctly audible.
One day in particular had planned
fishing excursion. I was in the house
gathering my accoutrements when q
heavy rumble was heard out Of doors.
"Thunderw exclaimed in dismay; mo
fishing to-day" and out I rushed to
locate the cloud. THAT is not thunder" !"
said father, thoughtfully, "that is ar
tillery; q great battle is being fought"
1t was the battle of Antietam.
Great was my joy as started cheerily
for the woodland stream. Little cared
for wars or rumors of war. Little
rocked of Southern rights or preserva-
tion of the Union, so long as the sky
smiled serenely and the fish bit en-
couragingly.
Then came the dread excitement of the
draft. 1t was black day in our calendar
when Uncle Henry Brown, our colored
farmland, was drafted. was very fond
OF Uncle Henry. He was ever ready to
accompany me on coon or rabbit hunt,
always had the time to construct q box
trap or snare for me, and at night /
would sit for hours and listen to his
plantation stories or to his songs tina,
sounded, oh! so melodiously, in the still
night air.
Alas! Uncle Henry. I pictured his
lying stiff and stark on some CORY battle.
field. Alas! Uncle Henry.
wept the morning he started for the
recruiting headquarters and grasped his
horny hand; Uncle Henry, however, was
singularly composed.
I've muffin to do wild de wah, an
amt goin' to hab muffin to do wild it." he
declared emphatically.
Sadly l wandered over the farm, de-
pressed and lonesome. That night as
supper was preparing Uncle Henry
walked into the kitchen.
"Hyar is," said he.
Instantly he was overwhelmed with
congratulations and volley of ques-
tions.
"Well, you cee," said Uncle Henry, 81
am just leetle knockneed, an as war
a-gOin' to de camp sez to myself sez /,
Henry, niggah, dose knees OBJ yours
mOut turn out fortunate conhiction,
an muss see dat dey are well bent when
l corle to de camp an SO walked along,
an bimeby thought one of my shoul-
ders mout be q leetle higher den de od-
der, an 90 it war.
well, when come to de camp, de SER
geant he say, Stan up dar,' an l stan
"He looked at me q while, an den he
say, g you stan no straighter den dat,
my ani
chill n, l jest bent dose knees of mine
togeddah until dey hut me and hitched
my shoulder clar up to my ear. Den de
sergeant he look while an call anuddcr
ofticer an he look while; bimeby he say
"'See hyar, can't you STAN no straighter
81 is doin' my best, boss seq I, and I
screwed my knees togeddah.
"'You 10 de crookedest man I hsb cher
laid my eyes on, sez de sergeant.
"'Y0ur mudder muss hab been sksered
~ 9 dogs hind leg afore you was
burned sez de odder oflcer, kind o.
disgusted like. ! ser numn', but I
stood mighty crooked.
"'We don't want NO sich man q you
sez do sergeant; you kin 60, an hyar
/ To-"
The next day Uncle Henry started for
the village store ON some domestic or
rand, but returned IN trepidation with
out fulflling his commissIon.
"De soldiers sm . tskin' Dc hosses
ebTywhere,v he announced in thrilling
tones.
We had he'd come warning that The
COVENANT i.tsaded lsyyi.g @ he.sce
na3toa ~ its o2fogcomonk 8 7a.s ,s
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